HLB - Word Related Documents




#
Rank
Similarity
Title + Abs.
Year
PMID
012345
874700.9771An endolysin gene from Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus confers dual resistance to huanglongbing and citrus canker. The most damaging citrus diseases are Huanglongbing (HLB) and citrus canker, which are caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CaLas) and Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Xcc), respectively. Endolysins from bacteriophages are a possible option for disease resistance in plant breeding. Here, we report improvement of citrus resistance to HLB and citrus canker using the LasLYS1 and LasLYS2 endolysins from CaLas. LasLYS2 demonstrated bactericidal efficacy against several Rhizobiaceae bacteria and Xcc, according to inhibition zone analyses. The two genes, driven by a strong promoter from Cauliflower mosaic virus, 35S, were integrated into Carrizo citrange via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. More than 2 years of greenhouse testing indicated that LasLYS2 provided substantial and long-lasting resistance to HLB, allowing transgenic plants to retain low CaLas titers and no obvious symptoms while also clearing CaLas from infected plants in the long term. LasLYS2 transgenic plants with improved HLB resistance also showed resistance to Xcc, indicating that LasLYS2 had dual resistance to HLB and citrus canker. A microbiome study of transgenic plants revealed that the endolysins repressed Xanthomonadaceae and Rhizobiaceae populations in roots while increasing Burkholderiaceae and Rhodanobacteraceae populations, which might boost the citrus defense response, according to transcriptome analysis. We also found that Lyz domain 2 is the key bactericidal motif of LasLYS1 and LasLYS2. Four endolysins with potential resistance to HLB and citrus canker were found based on the structures of LasLYS1 and LasLYS2. Overall, the work shed light on the mechanisms of resistance of CaLas-derived endolysins, providing insights for designing endolysins to develop broad-spectrum disease resistance in citrus.202337719271
875010.9748MicroRNA miR171b Positively Regulates Resistance to Huanglongbing of Citrus. Huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most severe citrus diseases in the world, causing huge economic losses. However, efficient methods of protecting citrus from HLB have not yet been developed. microRNA (miRNA)-mediated regulation of gene expression is a useful tool to control plant diseases, but the miRNAs involved in regulating resistance to HLB have not yet been identified. In this study, we found that miR171b positively regulated resistance to HLB in citrus. Upon infection with HLB bacteria, the bacteria were detected in the second month in the control plants. However, in the miR171b-overexpressing transgenic citrus plants, the bacteria could not be detected until the 24th month. RNA-seq data indicated that multiple pathways, such as photosynthesis, plant-pathogen interaction, the MAPK signaling pathway, etc., might be involved in improving the resistance to HLB in miR171b-overexpressing plants compared with the control. Finally, we determined that miR171b could target SCARECROW-like (SCL) genes to downregulate their expression, which then led to promoted resistance to HLB stress. Collectively, our results demonstrate that miR171b plays a positive regulatory role in resistance to citrus HLB, and provides a new insight into the role of miRNAs in the adaptation of citrus to HLB stress.202336982808
874820.9732Heterologous Expression of the Constitutive Disease Resistance 2 and 8 Genes from Poncirus trifoliata Restored the Hypersensitive Response and Resistance of Arabidopsis cdr1 Mutant to Bacterial Pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, is the most destructive disease of citrus worldwide. In the United States, this disease is associated with a phloem-restricted bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. Commercial citrus cultivars are susceptible to HLB, but Poncirus trifoliata, a close relative of Citrus, is highly tolerant of HLB. Isolating P. trifoliata gene(s) controlling its HLB tolerance followed by expressing the gene(s) in citrus is considered a potential cisgenic approach to engineering citrus for tolerance to HLB. Previous gene expression studies indicated that the constitutive disease resistance (CDR) genes in P. trifoliata (PtCDRs) may play a vital role in its HLB tolerance. This study was designed to use Arabidopsis mutants as a model system to confirm the function of PtCDRs in plant disease resistance. PtCDR2 and PtCDR8 were amplified from P. trifoliata cDNA and transferred into the Arabidopsis cdr1 mutant, whose resident CDR1 gene was disrupted by T-DNA insertion. The PtCDR2 and PtCDR8 transgenic Arabidopsis cdr1 mutant restored its hypersensitive response to the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 (Pst DC3000) expressing avrRpt2. The defense marker gene PATHOGENESIS RELATED 1 (PR1) expressed at much higher levels in the PtCDR2 or PtCDR8 transgenic cdr1 mutant than in the non-transgenic cdr1 mutant with or without pathogen infection. Multiplication of Pst DC3000 bacteria in Arabidopsis was inhibited by the expression of PtCDR2 and PtCDR8. Our results showed that PtCDR2 and PtCDR8 were functional in Arabidopsis and played a positive role in disease resistance and demonstrated that Arabidopsis mutants can be a useful alternate system for screening Poncirus genes before making the time-consuming effort to transfer them into citrus, a perennial woody plant that is highly recalcitrant for Agrobacterium or biolistic-mediated transformation.202032629813
876430.9719Transgenic citrus expressing synthesized cecropin B genes in the phloem exhibits decreased susceptibility to Huanglongbing. Expression of synthesized cecropin B genes in the citrus phloem, where Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus resides, significantly decreased host susceptibility to Huanglongbing. Huanglongbing (HLB), associated with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus bacteria, is the most destructive disease of citrus worldwide. All of the commercial sweet orange cultivars lack resistance to this disease. The cationic lytic peptide cecropin B, isolated from the Chinese tasar moth (Antheraea pernyi), has been shown to effectively eliminate bacteria. In this study, we demonstrated that transgenic citrus (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) expressing the cecropin B gene specifically in the phloem had a decreased susceptibility to HLB. Three plant codon-optimized synthetic cecropin B genes, which were designed to secrete the cecropin B peptide into three specific sites, the extracellular space, the cytoplasm, and the endoplasmic reticulum, were constructed. Under the control of the selected phloem-specific promoter GRP1.8, these constructs were transferred into the citrus genome. All of the cecropin B genes were efficiently expressed in the phloem of transgenic plants. Over more than a year of evaluation, the transgenic lines exhibited reduced disease severity. Bacterial populations in transgenic lines were significantly lower than in the controls. Two lines, in which bacterial populations were significantly lower than in others, showed no visible symptoms. Thus, we demonstrated the potential application of the phloem-specific expression of an antimicrobial peptide gene to protect citrus plants from HLB.201727866312
844740.9716Deep R-gene discovery in HLB resistant wild Australian limes uncovers evolutionary features and potentially important loci for hybrid breeding. Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating citrus disease that threatens the citrus industry worldwide. HLB is associated with the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) and as of today, there are no tools for economically viable disease management. Several wild Australian limes have been identified to be HLB resistant and their resistance is hypothesized to be conferred by resistance genes (R-genes), which mediate pathogen-specific defense responses. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the genomic features of R-genes in Australian limes, in comparison to susceptible citrus cultivars. In this study, we used five citrus genomes, including three Australian limes (Citrus australasica, C. glauca and C. inodora) and two cultivated citrus species (C. clementina and C. sinensis). Our results indicate up to 70% of the R-genes were identified in the unannotated regions in the original genome annotation of each species, owing to the use of a R-gene specific pipeline. Surprisingly, the two cultivated species harbored 15.8 to 104% more R-genes than the Australian limes. In all species, over 75% of the R-genes occurred in clusters and nearly 80% were concentrated in three chromosomes (Chr3, 5 and 7). The syntenic R-gene based phylogenic classification grouped the five species according to their HLB-resistance levels, reflecting the association between these R-genes and their distinct Australian origins. Domain structure analysis revealed substantial similarities in the R-genes between wild Australian limes and cultivated citrus. Investigation of chromosomal sites underlying Australian specific R genes revealed diversifying selection signatures on several chromosomal regions. The findings in this study will aid in the development of tools for genome-assisted breeding for HLB-resistant varieties.202439963358
873150.9714Isolation of Potato Endophytes and Screening of Chaetomium globosum Antimicrobial Genes. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have natural antibacterial activities that pathogens find difficult to overcome. As a result of this occurrence, AMPs can act as an important substitute against the microbial resistance. In this study, we used plate confrontation tests to screen out 20 potential endophytes from potato tubers. Among them, endophyte F5 was found to significantly inhibit the growth of five different pathogenic fungi. Following that, phylogenetic analysis revealed that the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were 99% identical to Chaetomium globosum corresponding sequences. Thereafter, the Bacillus subtilis expression system was used to create a C. globosum cDNA library in order to isolate the resistance genes. Using this approach, the resistance gene screening technology in the indicator bacteria built-in library was used to identify two antimicrobial peptides, CgR2150 and CgR3101, with broad-spectrum antibacterial activities. Furthermore, the results showed that CgR2150 and CgR3101 have excellent UV, thermal, and enzyme stabilities. Also, these two peptides can significantly inhibit the growth of various bacteria (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, Clavibacter michiganensis, and Clavibacter fangii) and fungi (Fusarium graminearum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Botrytis cinerea). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that CgR2150 and CgR3101 peptides act against bacteria by disrupting bacterial cell membranes. Moreover, hemolytic activity assay showed that neither of the two peptides exhibited significant hemolytic activity. To conclude, the antimicrobial peptides CgR2150 and CgR3101 are promising in the development of a new antibacterial agent and for application in plant production.202235563004
874960.9709Analysis of Defense-Related Gene Expression in Citrus Hybrids Infected by Xylella fastidiosa. Resistance to Xylella fastidiosa was evaluated in 264 hybrids of crosses between Murcott tangor (Citrus reticulata × Citrus sinensis) and Pera sweet orange (C. sinensis) under field conditions. Uninfected hybrids were grafted with buds collected from Pera sweet orange plants infected with X. fastidiosa, forming a plant with two scions (i.e., hybrid branches and Pera sweet orange branches). From these plants, we chose 10 genotypes with three biological replicates. We evaluated gene expression, bacterial multiplication, and citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) symptom development in both scions. X. fastidiosa was not detected in most hybrid scions and none showed disease symptoms. In contrast, all Pera sweet orange scions were infected with X. fastidiosa and expressed symptoms of CVC. We quantified the expression of 12 defense-related genes by qPCR comparing resistant to susceptible scions. We suggest that some of these genes are involved in resistance of the hybrids to X. fastidiosa, since their expression was significantly higher in the resistant hybrid scions than in tolerant hybrids and scions originated from CVC symptomatic Pera sweet orange buds. However, we note that these data should be interpreted carefully, as the plant genotypes tested are related but necessarily distinct (hybrids of C. reticulata and C. sinensis, in relation to a C. sinensis control). A principal component analysis revealed a relationship between the expression of these genes and hybrid scions, and between scions that originated from infected buds and the presence of the bacteria and plant symptoms. Multiyear field trials are necessary to develop plant resistance to X. fastidiosa. While the experimental design used here had limitations, it allowed us to identify a set of genes potentially involved in Citrus sp. resistance to this pathogen. Future work on the role of these genes in plant defenses to X. fastidiosa infection is necessary to confirm their importance in the displayed resistance phenotype.201930480473
874670.9703Enhanced Resistance to Fungal and Bacterial Diseases Due to Overexpression of BSR1, a Rice RLCK, in Sugarcane, Tomato, and Torenia. Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum is one of the most devastating sugarcane diseases. Furthermore, Rhizoctonia solani causes severe diseases in various crops including rice, tomato, potato, sugar beet, tobacco, and torenia. However, effective disease-resistant genes against these pathogens have not been identified in target crops. Therefore, the transgenic approach can be used since conventional cross-breeding is not applicable. Herein, the overexpression of BROAD-SPECTRUM RESISTANCE 1 (BSR1), a rice receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase, was conducted in sugarcane, tomato and torenia. BSR1-overexpressing tomatoes exhibited resistance to the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and the fungus R. solani, whereas BSR1-overexpressing torenia showed resistance to R. solani in the growth room. Additionally, BSR1 overexpression conferred resistance to sugarcane smut in the greenhouse. These three BSR1-overexpressing crops exhibited normal growth and morphologies except in the case of exceedingly high levels of overexpression. These results indicate that BSR1 overexpression is a simple and effective tool for conferring broad-spectrum disease resistance to many crops.202336835053
874580.9701Enhanced resistance to seed-transmitted bacterial diseases in transgenic rice plants overproducing an oat cell-wall-bound thionin. Bacterial attack is a serious agricultural problem for growth of rice seedlings in the nursery and field. The thionins purified from seed and etiolated seedlings of barley are known to have antimicrobial activity against necrotrophic pathogens; however, we found that no endogenous rice thionin genes alone are enough for resistance to two major seed-transmitted phytopathogenic bacteria, Burkholderia plantarii and B. glumae, although rice thionin genes constitutively expressed in coleoptile, the target organ of the bacteria. Thus, we isolated thionin genes from oat, one of which was overexpressed in rice. When wild-type rice seed were germinated with these bacteria, all seedlings were wilted with severe blight. In the seedling infected with B. plantarii, bacterial staining was intensively marked around stomata and intercellular spaces. However, transgenic rice seedlings accumulating a high level of oat thionin in cell walls grew almost normally with bacterial staining only on the surface of stomata. These results indicate that the oat thionin effectively works in rice plants against bacterial attack.200212059099
607890.9698Genomic Insights into Cyanide Biodegradation in the Pseudomonas Genus. Molecular studies about cyanide biodegradation have been mainly focused on the hydrolytic pathways catalyzed by the cyanide dihydratase CynD or the nitrilase NitC. In some Pseudomonas strains, the assimilation of cyanide has been linked to NitC, such as the cyanotrophic model strain Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344, which has been recently reclassified as Pseudomonas oleovorans CECT 5344. In this work, a phylogenomic approach established a more precise taxonomic position of the strain CECT 5344 within the species P. oleovorans. Furthermore, a pan-genomic analysis of P. oleovorans and other species with cyanotrophic strains, such as P. fluorescens and P. monteilii, allowed for the comparison and identification of the cioAB and mqoAB genes involved in cyanide resistance, and the nitC and cynS genes required for the assimilation of cyanide or cyanate, respectively. While cyanide resistance genes presented a high frequency among the analyzed genomes, genes responsible for cyanide or cyanate assimilation were identified in a considerably lower proportion. According to the results obtained in this work, an in silico approach based on a comparative genomic approach can be considered as an agile strategy for the bioprospection of putative cyanotrophic bacteria and for the identification of new genes putatively involved in cyanide biodegradation.202438674043
13100.9695Streptomyces sp. JCK-6131 Protects Plants Against Bacterial and Fungal Diseases via Two Mechanisms. Plant bacterial and fungal diseases cause significant agricultural losses and need to be controlled. Beneficial bacteria are promising candidates for controlling these diseases. In this study, Streptomyces sp. JCK-6131 exhibited broad-spectrum antagonistic activity against various phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi. In vitro assays showed that the fermentation filtrate of JCK-6131 inhibited the growth of bacteria and fungi with minimum concentration inhibitory (MIC) values of 0.31-10% and 0.31-1.25%, respectively. In the in vivo experiments, treatment with JCK-6131 effectively suppressed the development of apple fire blight, tomato bacterial wilt, and cucumber Fusarium wilt in a dose-dependent manner. RP-HPLC and ESI-MS/MS analyses indicated that JCK-6131 can produce several antimicrobial compounds, three of which were identified as streptothricin E acid, streptothricin D, and 12-carbamoyl streptothricin D. In addition, the disease control efficacy of the foliar application of JCK-6131 against tomato bacterial wilt was similar to that of the soil drench application, indicating that JCK-6131 could enhance defense resistance in plants. Molecular studies on tomato plants showed that JCK-6131 treatment induced the expression of the pathogenesis-related (PR) genes PR1, PR3, PR5, and PR12, suggesting the simultaneous activation of the salicylate (SA) and jasmonate (JA) signaling pathways. The transcription levels of PR genes increased earlier and were higher in treated plants than in untreated plants following Ralstonia solanacearum infection. These results indicate that Streptomyces sp. JCK-6131 can effectively control various plant bacterial and fungal diseases via two distinct mechanisms of antibiosis and induced resistance.202134603354
8469110.9694Probiogenomic analysis of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SPS109: A potential GABA-producing and cholesterol-lowering probiotic strain. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SPS109, an isolated strain of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from fermented foods, showed remarkable potential as a probiotic with dual capabilities in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production and cholesterol reduction. This study employs genomic and comparative analyses to search into the strain's genetic profile, safety features, and probiotic attributes. The safety assessment reveals the absence of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes, while the genome uncovers bacteriocin-related elements, including sactipeptides and a cluster for putative plantaricins, strengthening its ability to combat diverse pathogens. Pangenome analysis revealed unique bacteriocin-related genes, specifically lcnD and bcrA, distinguishing SPS109 from four other L. plantarum strains producing GABA. In addition, genomic study emphasizes SPS109 strain distinctive features, two GABA-related genes responsible for GABA production and a bile tolerance gene (cbh) crucial for cholesterol reduction. Additionally, the analysis highlights several genes of potential probiotic properties, including stress tolerance, vitamin production, and antioxidant activity. In summary, L. plantarum SPS109 emerges as a promising probiotic candidate with versatile applications in the food and beverage industries, supported by its unique genomic features and safety profile.202439044985
8727120.9694Transcriptome Analysis of Rice Near-Isogenic Lines Inoculated with Two Strains of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, AH28 and PXO99(A). Rice bacterial blight (BB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is a major threat to rice production and food security. Exploring new resistance genes and developing varieties with broad-spectrum and high resistance has been a key focus in rice disease resistance research. In a preliminary study, rice cultivar Fan3, exhibiting high resistance to PXO99(A) and susceptibility to AH28, was developed by enhancing the resistance of Yuehesimiao (YHSM) to BB. This study performed a transcriptome analysis on the leaves of Fan3 and YHSM following inoculation with Xoo strains AH28 and PXO99(A). The analysis revealed significant differential expression of 14,084 genes. Among the transcription factor (TF) families identified, bHLH, WRKY, and ERF were prominent, with notable differences in the expression of OsWRKY62, OsWRKY76, and OsbHLH6 across samples. Over 100 genes were directly linked to disease resistance, including nearly 30 NBS-LRR family genes. Additionally, 11 SWEET family protein genes, over 750 protein kinase genes, 63 peroxidase genes, and eight phenylalanine aminolysase genes were detected. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed significant enrichment in pathways related to defense response to bacteria and oxidative stress response. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis indicated that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and diterpenoid biosynthesis pathways. Gene expression results from qRT-PCR were consistent with those from RNA-Seq, underscoring the reliability of the findings. Candidate genes identified in this study that may be resistant to BB, such as NBS-LRR family genes LOC_Os11g11960 and LOC_Os11g12350, SWEET family genes LOC_Os01g50460 and LOC_Os01g12130, and protein kinase-expressing genes LOC_Os01g66860 and LOC_Os02g57700, will provide a theoretical basis for further experiments. These results suggest that the immune response of rice to the two strains may be more concentrated in the early stage, and there are more up-regulated genes in the immune response of the high-resistant to PXO99A and medium-resistant to AH28, respectively, compared with the highly susceptible rice. This study offers a foundation for further research on resistance genes and the molecular mechanisms in Fan3 and YHSM.202439599338
6012130.9692Metal resistance-related genes are differently expressed in response to copper and zinc ion in six Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains. Metal resistance of acidophilic bacteria is very significant during bioleaching of copper ores since high concentration of metal is harmful to the growth of microorganisms. The resistance levels of six Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains to 0.15 M copper and 0.2 M zinc were investigated, and eight metal resistance-related genes (afe-0022, afe-0326, afe-0329, afe-1143, afe-0602, afe-0603, afe-0604, and afe-1788) were sequenced and analyzed. The transcriptional expression levels of eight possible metal tolerance genes in six A. ferrooxidans strains exposed to 0.15 M Cu(2+) and 0.2 M Zn(2+) were determined by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), respectively. The copper resistance levels of six A. ferrooxidans strains declined followed by DY26, DX5, DY15, GD-B, GD-0, and YTW. The zinc tolerance levels of six A. ferrooxidans strains exposed to 0.2 M Zn(2+) from high to low were YTW > GD-B > DY26 > GD-0 > DX5 > DY15. Seven metal tolerance-related genes all presented in the genome of six strains, except afe-0604. The metal resistance-related genes showed different transcriptional expression patterns in six A. ferrooxidans strains. The expression of gene afe-0326 and afe-0022 in six A. ferrooxidans strains in response to 0.15 M Cu(2+) showed the same trend with the resistance levels. The expression levels of genes afe-0602, afe-0603, afe-0604, and afe-1788 in six strains response to 0.2 M Zn(2+) did not show a clear correlation between the zinc tolerance levels of six strains. According to the results of RT-qPCR and bioinformatics analysis, the proteins encoded by afe-0022, afe-0326, afe-0329, and afe-1143 were related to Cu(2+) transport of A. ferrooxidans strains.201425023638
4534140.9688Microbiome diversity in Diaphorina citri populations from Kenya and Tanzania shows links to China. The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) is a key pest of Citrus spp. worldwide, as it acts as a vector for "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las)", the bacterial pathogen associated with the destructive Huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Recent detection of D. citri in Africa and reports of Las-associated HLB in Ethiopia suggest that the citrus industry on the continent is under imminent threat. Endosymbionts and gut bacteria play key roles in the biology of arthropods, especially with regards to vector-pathogen interactions and resistance to antibiotics. Thus, we aim to profile the bacterial genera and to identify antibiotic resistance genes within the microbiome of different populations worldwide of D. citri. The metagenome of D. citri was sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore full-length 16S metagenomics protocol, and the "What's in my pot" (WIMP) analysis pipeline. Microbial diversity within and between D. citri populations was assessed, and antibiotic resistance genes were identified using the WIMP-ARMA workflow. The most abundant genera were key endosymbionts of D. citri ("Candidatus Carsonella", "Candidatus Profftella", and Wolbachia). The Shannon diversity index showed that D. citri from Tanzania had the highest diversity of bacterial genera (1.92), and D. citri from China had the lowest (1.34). The Bray-Curtis dissimilarity showed that China and Kenya represented the most diverged populations, while the populations from Kenya and Tanzania were the least diverged. The WIMP-ARMA analyses generated 48 CARD genes from 13 bacterial species in each of the populations. Spectinomycin resistance genes were the most frequently found, with an average of 65.98% in all the populations. These findings add to the knowledge on the diversity of the African D. citri populations and the probable introduction source of the psyllid in these African countries.202032589643
254150.9688Investigation of Antimicrobial Peptide Genes Associated with Fungus and Insect Resistance in Maize. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small defense proteins present in various organisms. Major groups of AMPs include beta-barrelin, hevein, knottin, lipid transfer protein (LTP), thionin, defensin, snakin, and cyclotide. Most plant AMPs involve host plant resistance to pathogens such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria, whereas a few plant AMPs from the cyclotide family carry insecticidal functions. In this research, a genome-wide investigation on antimicrobial peptide genes in maize genome was conducted. AMPs previously identified from various plant species were used as query sequences for maize genome data mining. Thirty-nine new maize AMPs were identified in addition to seven known maize AMPs. Protein sequence analysis revealed 10 distinguishable maize AMP groups. Analysis of mRNA expression of maize AMP genes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed different expression patterns in a panel of 10 maize inbred lines. Five maize AMP genes were found significantly associated with insect or fungus resistance. Identification of maize antimicrobial peptide genes will facilitate the breeding of host plant resistance and improve maize production.201728914754
6068160.9688Technological properties of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria isolated from Pico cheese an artisanal cow's milk cheese. AIM: Evaluate technologically relevant properties from bacteriocin-producing strains to use as starter/adjunct cultures in cheese making. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight isolates obtained from Pico cheese produced in Azores (Portugal) were found to produce bacteriocins against Listeria monocytogenes and three isolates against Clostridium perfringens. They were identified as Lactococcus lactis and Enterococcus faecalis and submitted to technological tests: growth at different conditions of temperature and salt, acid production, proteolysis, lipolysis, coexistence, enzymatic profile and autolytic capacity. Safety evaluation was performed by evaluating haemolytic, gelatinase and DNase activity, resistance to antibiotics and the presence of virulence genes. Some isolates presented good technological features such as high autolytic activity, acid and diacetyl production. Lactococcus lactis was negative for all virulence genes tested and inhibit the growth of all Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates. Enterococci were positive for the presence of some virulence genes, but none of the isolates were classified as resistant to important antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: The bacteriocin-producing Lc. lactis present good potential for application in food as adjunct culture in cheese production. The study also reveals good technological features for some Enterococcus isolates. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Bacteriocin-producing strains presented important technological properties to be exploited as new adjunct culture for the dairy industry, influencing flavour development and improve safety.201424206097
8756170.9687Genetic Insights Into Pathways Supporting Optimized Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Chickpea and Their Interaction With Disease Resistance Breeding. In chickpea (Cicer arietinum), a globally important grain legume, improvements in yield stability are required to address food security and agricultural land loss. One approach is to improve both nutrient acquisition through symbiosis with rhizobial bacteria and biotic stress resistance. To support the simultaneous selection of multiple beneficial traits, we sought to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genes linked to improved plant-microbe symbiosis both under symbiosis-promotive growth conditions and when pathogens are present. Our aims were to use the chickpea-Mesorhizobium rhizobial model to identify QTL associated with biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and nutrient acquisition and understand factors promotive of sustained BNF under biotic stress through the impact of Phytophthora root rot (PRR) on BNF across chickpea genotypes on host gene expression. Using two chickpea × C. echinospermum recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, we identified QTL associated with BNF and several associated with macro- and micro-nutrient status of chickpea. From within a set of the most PRR-resistant RIL (n = 70), we successfully identified RIL with both high PRR resistance and N sourced from BNF. In conditions of the tripartite (host:rhizobia:pathogen) interaction, while there was no consistent pathogen impact on the abundance of Mesorhizobium in nodules, PRR-resistant genotypes maintained a higher activity of their N-assimilation genes, while susceptible genotypes repressed these genes. This improved understanding of the genetic support of BNF in chickpea will allow selection for material that maintains higher BNF and is more disease resistant, which together may improve yield stability in chickpea.202540962294
8751180.9687Mutations in the Two-Component GluS-GluR Regulatory System Confer Resistance to β-Lactam Antibiotics in Burkholderia glumae. Bacteria have specific signaling systems to overcome selective pressure, such as exposure to antibiotics. The two-component system (TCS) plays an important role in the development of antibiotic resistance. Using the rice pathogen Burkholderia glumae BGR1 as a model organism, we showed that the GluS (BGLU_1G13350) - GluR (BGLU_1G13360) TCS, consisting of a sensor kinase and response regulator, respectively, contributes to β-lactam resistance through a distinct mechanism. Inactivation of gluS or gluR conferred resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in B. glumae, whereas wild-type (WT) B. glumae was susceptible to these antibiotics. In gluS and gluR mutants, the expression of genes encoding metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) and penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) was significantly higher than in the WT. GluR-His bound to the putative promoter regions of annotated genes encoding MBL (BGLU_1G21360) and PBPs (BGLU_1G13280 and BGLU_1G04560), functioning as a repressor. These results demonstrate that the potential to attain β-lactam resistance may be genetically concealed in the TCS, in contrast to the widely accepted view of the role of TCS in antibiotic resistance. Our findings provide a new perspective on antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and suggest a different therapeutic approach for successful control of bacterial pathogens.202134381438
6063190.9686A potentially probiotic strain of Enterococcus faecalis from human milk that is avirulent, antibiotic sensitive, and nonbreaching of the gut barrier. Human milk is a key source of promising probiotic lactic acid bacteria. The Enterococcus species, because of their dual commensal and pathogenic nature, demand critical safety analysis to establish them as probiotic candidates. In this study, eighteen E. faecalis strains from human milk of mothers living in Pakistan were typed at the strain level by riboprinting. The typed strains were then evaluated in vitro for physiological safety and the presence of transmissible antibiotic resistance genes, adhesion genes, biogenic amines, and virulence factors. Selected strains were then checked for tolerance to gastrointestinal acid and bile as criteria for probiotic efficacy. Molecular typing revealed that the strains fell into five distinct clusters or ribotypes. Testing revealed that they were non-hemolytic; however, all strains had gelatinase activity except NPL-493. The isolates were susceptible to most clinically important antibiotics except streptomycin. Molecular screening for antibiotic resistance genes, adhesion genes, biogenic amines, and virulence factors indicated that none of the strains possessed resistance genes for aminoglycosides, vancomycin, bacitracin, tetracycline, or clindamycin. Most virulence factors were absent except for the genes gelE and efaAs associated with gut adhesion and translocation, which were present in all except NPL-493. Strain NPL-493 was the most promising probiotic candidate demonstrating significant tolerance to the acid, bile, and digestive enzymes in the human GIT and antibacterial activity against multiple pathogens. The study concluded that E. faecalis NPL-493 from human milk was safe among all the strains and could be considered a potential probiotic.202235107663